There have been some changes to Fabric Manager that you should understand between 2.x and the more current versions. The Cisco Fabric Manager installation process has changed starting in release 3.2(1). Cisco Fabric Manager (also known as FM) is no longer embedded in SAN-OS software and you cannot install FM from Cisco MDS 9000 switches. The relational database is now separated from Cisco FM software, and there are two distinct versions of Cisco FM. The two versions are FM Standalone and FM Server. FM Servers is best suited for users who need to use Performance Manager, EMC MDS Email Home, or require Client / Server configurations. FM Standalone is best suited for users who can use a standalone application without the previously stated features.
Prior to Fabric Manager 3.1(2b), there was only one standard database that Fabric Manager used to store its data. It was the Hypersonic HSQL database. During testing for a customer problem with FM not displaying current configuration information, Cisco found that Hypersonic database was being corrupted on the large amount of data associated with large complex SANs. Cisco therefore began the process of looking for a new database to use with Fabric Manager. In Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) Cisco began to allow the use of Oracle 10G Express instead of the Hypersonic HSQL database. Pre Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) → Hypersonic HSQL Database. Found to be problematic with large SANs. Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) → Hypersonic HSQL Database or Oracle 10 G Express Database allowed
Cisco FM required a more robust, commercial grade database for improved scalability and reliability and the previous embedded Java database did not scale well. A more flexible and extensible Cisco FM server framework was required for managing Fibre Channel and Data Center switches and commercial database and Cisco FM server framework far exceed flash space available on switches for management software. With Fabric Manager 3.2(1), Hypersonic HSQL is no longer supported. New choices are Oracle 10 G or the new PostgreSQL. Data in old Hypersonic HSQL from previous version of Fabric Manager will be imported into the new database when you upgrade. Here are the reasons why PostgreSQL may be a better choice than Oracle for most customers.
PostgreSQL database versus Oracle 10 G Express Database Automated installer with Windows vs Requires manual installation before FM is installed Open Source vs Each installation must be separately registered Included on the Fabric Manager CD vs Must be downloaded directly from Oracle Can be used with other PostgreSQL databases vs Conflicts with ECC¿s use of Oracle Should be used for most installations vs Use for large SANs (over 1000 or more end devices)
In regards to licensed versus stand alone versions. It depends what you are going to use it for. The new Fabric Manager Server (FMS) is a true client/server model now. You can install FMS (License) with and without a license. Without a license you are limited on running the client local, only opening on SAN at a time, etc. FMS does have advantages to it as it keeps monitoring the SAN while the GUI is closed which is necessary for applications like EMC Email Home. When you close the standalone application, it is completely removed from memory and stops and monitoring.
I would recommend reading through Cisco's Fabric Manager Config Guide located on Cisco.com for some background. I have additionally created a step by step manual with all the above stated information and more in it. If you are interested in it, please contact your EMC Customer Service Engineering and they should be able to provide it to you.
Any further questions, please post them. Thank you.
AFAIK the licensed version is needed when you run FM as a service. It will then have a database on the host it's installed on to gather errors and warnings, so you have some sort of history of what has been going on in your switch. An alternative is the unlicensed version and set up a syslog server somewhere in your network to send syslog messages to so you can have an error log on that host.
You can run it unlicensed ! No problems there !!! Simply download it and gooooooo
thank you for taking the time to explain all this, i have a few follow up questions:
The two versions are FM Standalone and FM
Server. FM Servers is best suited for users who need to use Performance Manager, EMC MDS Email Home, or require Client / Server configurations. FM Standalone is best suited for users who can use a standalone application without the previously stated features.
So in order to get email-home functionality i have to install the FM Server and license it ?
Here are the reasons why PostgreSQL may be a better choice than Oracle for most customers.
PostgreSQL database versus Oracle 10 G Express Database Automated installer with Windows vs Requires manual installation before FM is installed Open Source vs Each installation must be separately registered
even thought Oracle 10G express is freely available it still has to be registered ? but you don't have to purchase a license to use it ..just register it ?
In regards to licensed versus stand alone versions. It depends what you are going to use it for. The new Fabric Manager Server (FMS) is a true client/server model now. You can install FMS (License) with and without a license. Without a license you are limited on running the client local, only opening on SAN at a time, etc. FMS does have advantages to it as it keeps monitoring the SAN while the GUI is closed which is necessary for applications like EMC Email Home. When you close the standalone application, it is completely removed from memory and stops and monitoring.
What do you mean by "open one SAN at a time", one VSAN, one physical switch ? Also when you say "limited on running the client locally" ..does it mean that i have to be on the server itself to manage the fabric, i can't install the client and simply point to the server?
What are advantages in installing FM Server but not licensing it versus installing FM server standalone ?
With this new model, where FM uses a database, when i install the client piece on my workstation ..do i simply point it to my server running the database or to the actual switch ?
So in order to get email-home functionality i have to install the FM Server and license it ?
Not necessary. We've set up an email home within the switches. They mail to a local mail server which works just fine
open one SAN at a time
That would be 1 physically connected set of switches at a time, so multiple VSANs. You connect to 1 of the physical switches and you can "reach" everything from there. Fabric is the wrong word, since there can be (and will be) multiple VSANs you can manage at the same time.
For Email Home to be supported by EMC you MUST use FM Server and not the standalone. While standalone may work, if you close the GUI accidently, the switches will not be monitored. In addition there is no testing of Email Home via standalone by Cisco or EMC. If you encounter any problem with Email Home EMC support will request that you install FMS before they do any troubleshooting.
In regards to differences with FMS with and without a license, the biggest thing that you can't do without the license is bring up multiple SANs at the same time in FM. There are also other restrictions like monitoring performance stats, remote connections, etc. which are covered in the Licensing Section of the config guide. I'd recommend looking there to see exactly what you get with the FMS license.
If you need Email Home, FMS without a license is what I would recommend.
how does database get backed up ? Whether i chose Oracle or PostgreSQL i will need to back them up since all the essential information will now reside locally to the server i install FM Server on ..am i correct ?
Backup of the databases is not done by FM itself. There is currently no Cisco solution that does automated backups of the databases. EMC does offer a variety of solutions that can backup the database depending upon the customer needs. I would recommend you discuss this with your EMC Professional Sevices representative. You can also use an existing backup solution as long as it supports the database you are using and can handle if the database is open or not when backups are running.
i mean ..what is really saved in this database ? I can understand performance data ..but whatelse ? I would think zoneset information is saved on the switch itself ?
ConnectrixHelpe
259 Posts
0
March 20th, 2008 14:00
There have been some changes to Fabric Manager that you should understand between 2.x and the more current versions. The Cisco Fabric Manager installation process has changed starting in release 3.2(1). Cisco Fabric Manager (also known as FM) is no longer embedded in SAN-OS software and you cannot install FM from Cisco MDS 9000 switches. The relational database is now separated from Cisco FM software, and there are two distinct versions of Cisco FM. The two versions are FM Standalone and FM Server. FM Servers is best suited for users who need to use Performance Manager, EMC MDS Email Home, or require Client / Server configurations. FM Standalone is best suited for users who can use a standalone application without the previously stated features.
Prior to Fabric Manager 3.1(2b), there was only one standard database that Fabric Manager used to store its data. It was the Hypersonic HSQL database. During testing for a customer problem with FM not displaying current configuration information, Cisco found that Hypersonic database was being corrupted on the large amount of data associated with large complex SANs. Cisco therefore began the process of looking for a new database to use with Fabric Manager. In Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) Cisco began to allow the use of Oracle 10G Express instead of the Hypersonic HSQL database.
Pre Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) → Hypersonic HSQL Database. Found to be problematic with large SANs.
Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) → Hypersonic HSQL Database or Oracle 10 G Express Database allowed
Cisco FM required a more robust, commercial grade database for improved scalability and reliability and the previous embedded Java database did not scale well. A more flexible and extensible Cisco FM server framework was required for managing Fibre Channel and Data Center switches and commercial database and Cisco FM server framework far exceed flash space available on switches for management software.
With Fabric Manager 3.2(1), Hypersonic HSQL is no longer supported. New choices are Oracle 10 G or the new PostgreSQL. Data in old Hypersonic HSQL from previous version of Fabric Manager will be imported into the new database when you upgrade. Here are the reasons why PostgreSQL may be a better choice than Oracle for most customers.
PostgreSQL database versus Oracle 10 G Express Database
Automated installer with Windows vs Requires manual installation before FM is installed
Open Source vs Each installation must be separately registered
Included on the Fabric Manager CD vs Must be downloaded directly from Oracle
Can be used with other PostgreSQL databases vs Conflicts with ECC¿s use of Oracle
Should be used for most installations vs Use for large SANs (over 1000 or more end devices)
In regards to licensed versus stand alone versions. It depends what you are going to use it for. The new Fabric Manager Server (FMS) is a true client/server model now. You can install FMS (License) with and without a license. Without a license you are limited on running the client local, only opening on SAN at a time, etc. FMS does have advantages to it as it keeps monitoring the SAN while the GUI is closed which is necessary for applications like EMC Email Home. When you close the standalone application, it is completely removed from memory and stops and monitoring.
I would recommend reading through Cisco's Fabric Manager Config Guide located on Cisco.com for some background. I have additionally created a step by step manual with all the above stated information and more in it. If you are interested in it, please contact your EMC Customer Service Engineering and they should be able to provide it to you.
Any further questions, please post them. Thank you.
RRR
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5.7K Posts
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March 20th, 2008 13:00
An alternative is the unlicensed version and set up a syslog server somewhere in your network to send syslog messages to so you can have an error log on that host.
You can run it unlicensed ! No problems there !!! Simply download it and gooooooo
dynamox
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20.4K Posts
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March 20th, 2008 13:00
dynamox
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March 20th, 2008 16:00
thank you for taking the time to explain all this, i have a few follow up questions:
The two versions are FM Standalone and FM
need to use Performance Manager, EMC MDS Email Home,
or require Client / Server configurations. FM
Standalone is best suited for users who can use a
standalone application without the previously stated
features.
So in order to get email-home functionality i have to install the FM Server and license it ?
choice than Oracle for most customers.
PostgreSQL database versus Oracle 10
G Express Database
Automated installer with Windows vs Requires manual
installation before FM is installed
Open Source vs Each
installation must be separately registered
even thought Oracle 10G express is freely available it still has to be registered ? but you don't have to purchase a license to use it ..just register it ?
It depends what you are going to use it for. The
new Fabric Manager Server (FMS) is a true
client/server model now. You can install FMS
(License) with and without a license. Without a
license you are limited on running the client local,
only opening on SAN at a time, etc. FMS does have
advantages to it as it keeps monitoring the SAN
while the GUI is closed which is necessary for
applications like EMC Email Home. When you close
the standalone application, it is completely removed
from memory and stops and monitoring.
What do you mean by "open one SAN at a time", one VSAN, one physical switch ? Also when you say "limited on running the client locally" ..does it mean that i have to be on the server itself to manage the fabric, i can't install the client and simply point to the server?
What are advantages in installing FM Server but not licensing it versus installing FM server standalone ?
With this new model, where FM uses a database, when i install the client piece on my workstation ..do i simply point it to my server running the database or to the actual switch ?
Thanks again.
RRR
4 Operator
•
5.7K Posts
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March 21st, 2008 02:00
Not necessary. We've set up an email home within the switches. They mail to a local mail server which works just fine
That would be 1 physically connected set of switches at a time, so multiple VSANs. You connect to 1 of the physical switches and you can "reach" everything from there. Fabric is the wrong word, since there can be (and will be) multiple VSANs you can manage at the same time.
dynamox
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20.4K Posts
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March 21st, 2008 03:00
RRR
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5.7K Posts
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March 21st, 2008 05:00
Without the license.
dynamox
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20.4K Posts
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March 21st, 2008 08:00
Thanks
ConnectrixHelpe
259 Posts
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March 21st, 2008 10:00
For Email Home to be supported by EMC you MUST use FM Server and not the standalone. While standalone may work, if you close the GUI accidently, the switches will not be monitored. In addition there is no testing of Email Home via standalone by Cisco or EMC. If you encounter any problem with Email Home EMC support will request that you install FMS before they do any troubleshooting.
In regards to differences with FMS with and without a license, the biggest thing that you can't do without the license is bring up multiple SANs at the same time in FM. There are also other restrictions like monitoring performance stats, remote connections, etc. which are covered in the Licensing Section of the config guide. I'd recommend looking there to see exactly what you get with the FMS license.
If you need Email Home, FMS without a license is what I would recommend.
Any questions, please post.
Thank you.
RRR
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5.7K Posts
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March 21st, 2008 12:00
dynamox
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March 21st, 2008 12:00
dynamox
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March 24th, 2008 03:00
how does database get backed up ? Whether i chose Oracle or PostgreSQL i will need to back them up since all the essential information will now reside locally to the server i install FM Server on ..am i correct ?
ConnectrixHelpe
259 Posts
0
March 24th, 2008 10:00
Backup of the databases is not done by FM itself. There is currently no Cisco solution that does automated backups of the databases. EMC does offer a variety of solutions that can backup the database depending upon the customer needs. I would recommend you discuss this with your EMC Professional Sevices representative. You can also use an existing backup solution as long as it supports the database you are using and can handle if the database is open or not when backups are running.
Thank you.
dynamox
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20.4K Posts
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March 24th, 2008 10:00
dynamox
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March 24th, 2008 10:00
Thanks